Ski with brake

ABSTRACT

A brake plate is swingably carried on the base of a snow ski for automatic deployment upon initial rearward movement of the ski. A pivot pin permits arcuate movement of the brake plate, between limit stops, about an axis transversely disposed of the ski. The pivot pin is recessed in the bottom of the ski. A base plate also may be inset into the base of the ski.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention pertains generally to snow skis andparticularly to a modification thereof to prevent or inhibit rearwardtravel of the ski.

[0002] Recreational skiing generally includes downhill and cross countryskiing. In either use it is desirable to prevent rearward travel of aski. Previous efforts to provide a ski with various mechanisms toprevent or inhibit rearward ski travel are found in the prior art. It isnoted that such efforts, generally speaking, entail severe modificationof the ski to jeopardize ski strength and performance as well ascontribute significantly to the cost of ski manufacture. While suchprevious efforts may be practical with regard to a cross country ski,the earlier proposed modification of a downhill ski would severelyaffect the dynamic properties of same as well as ski strength.

[0003] U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,148,500; 4,398,746; 5,221,104 and 2,248,008 alldisclose heavily modified skis in an effort to provide a brake orrestraint for a ski.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0004] A ski is provided with a brake having a pivot carried by a baseplate on the base of the ski. Braking of the ski against rearward travelis effected by a swingably mounted member which, in operation, isdisplaced to a braking position by contact with a snow or other skisurface while during forward travel of the ski, automatically retractsto a raised position against of the ski. The pivot is housed in an insetmanner to avoid impeding ski use. The base plate may also be insetwithin a recess in the ski base. To achieve desired braking action, theski may be equipped with multiple spaced apart units without adverselyaffecting the structural integrity of the ski.

[0005] Important objectives of the present ski modification include abrake adapted for installation in a ski without adverse impact on thestrength nor the dynamic characteristics of a downhill or cross countryski; the provision of a brake, in combination with a ski, that requiresno actuating mechanism but rather is automatically deployed by gravityand contact with the snow, the latter upon initial travel of a ski in arearward direction; the provision of a brake which is of uncomplicateddesign without severe modification of the ski being necessary and abrake not adversely affecting ski weight or flexibility. These and otherobjectives of the present invention will become clear upon anunderstanding of the following described brake.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] In the accompanying drawings:

[0007]FIG. 1 is side elevational view of a snow ski with the presentinvention in place thereon;

[0008]FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of that area of the skiencircled at 2 in FIG. 1 with parts broken away.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 2; and

[0010]FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of that structure shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] With continuing attention to the drawings wherein appliedreference numerals indicate parts similarly hereinafter identified, thereference numeral 1 indicates a ski of the type used for recreationalpurposes. Tip and tail ends of the ski are indicated at 2 and 3 while amid section of the ski is indicated at 4. A ski binding is not shown.

[0012] A base plate 5 of the present brake is suitably secured to theunderside of the ski by fastening means as at 7 which may be a threadedfastener. Other fastening arrangements for the base plate may includesuitable adhesives and/or recessing the base plate to the extent anoverlay of the ski base B may serve to confine the plate. Base platesleeves are indicated at 8 and receive a pivot pin at 10. The sleevesand pin are preferably inset within a recess 11 within the ski base.

[0013] A brake plate 12 terminates forwardly, with respect to the ski,in a sleeve 13 journaled about pin 10 permitting brake plate travelabout an axis of the pin transversally disposed of the ski. An inclinedsurface at 14 of the ski limits travel of brake plate 12 in an upward orretracted direction during forward travel of the ski. Such upwardretraction of brake plate 12 virtually dispenses with any diminishingeffect of the plate on forward travel of the ski regardless of thetrailing edge 12A of plate 12 being offset slightly below ski base B.The offset of edge 12A assures brake deployment during initial rearwardtravel of the ski.

[0014] Brake plate 12 rotates about the pivot pin axis to the brokenline position of FIG. 2. Brake plate edge 12A preferably is radiussed toavoid injury to a skier in case of a fall. Further, brake plate 12 maybe formed on a relatively long radius (in plan view) while stillproviding an adequate surface area to effect braking.

[0015] A second plate limiting surface at 15 is provided by base plate 5which is contacted by a proximal edge 12B to limit deployment of brakeplate 12.

[0016] Adherence of snow or ice to the brake is avoided by theapplication of a synthetic material such as TEFLON, a registeredtrademark, identifying a synthetic material resistant to the adherenceof foreign matter.

[0017] While FIG. 1 discloses multiple brake units on a ski, a ski oflesser length may require only a single unit.

[0018] The present brake lends itself to convenient installation on skisduring their manufacture or by retrofitting of existing skis.

[0019] While we have shown but one embodiment of the invention, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may beembodied still otherwise without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe claimed invention.

[0020] Having thus described the invention, what is desired to besecured by a Letters Patent is:

We claim: 1- A brake for a snow ski having a bottom surface and aforward end and a rearward end, said brake comprising, a base forinstallation on the bottom of the ski, a brake plate, a pivot couplingsaid brake plate to said base, a first limit stop stopping travel of theplate in a position so as to depend from the pivot to inhibit rearwardtravel of the ski, and a second limit stop limiting retraction of thebrake plate toward the ski bottom during forward travel of the ski. 2- Abrake for a snow ski comprising, a base for installation on the ski, abrake plate, a pivot coupling said brake plate to said base, first andsecond limit stops limiting the brake plate to movement between adownwardly deployed position for braking of the ski and an upwardlyretracted position allowing forward travel of the ski. 3- The brakeclaimed in claim 1 wherein said first limit stop is a surface area onthe base. 4- The brake claimed in claim 3 wherein said second limit stopis inclined relative a horizontal plane containing the pivot. 5- Thebrake claimed in claim 1 wherein said brake plate at all times projectsbelow the bottom surface of the ski. 6- A snow ski including, a bottomsurface defining a recessed area, a base for installation on the bottomof the ski, a brake plate having a segment disposed below the bottom ofthe ski, a pivot coupling said brake plate to said base, a first limitstop stopping forward travel of the brake plate in a position so as todepend from the pivot to inhibit rearward travel of the ski, and asecond limit stop limiting rearward retraction of the brake plate towardthe ski bottom during forward travel of the ski. 7- A snow skiincluding, a brake plate, a pivot carried by the ski, said brake plateswingably carried by said pivot, and at least one surface area on saidski limiting brake plate travel about said pivot. 8- A snow skicomprising, top and bottom surfaces the latter defining a recess a brakeincluding a brake plate inhibiting rearward travel of the ski, a pivotin said recess and on which said brake is carried, means for attachingsaid pivot to the snow ski, and limit stops for limiting brake platemovement between a deployed braking position and a retracted trailingposition during forward travel of the ski. 9- The snow ski claimed inclaim 8 wherein one of said limit stops is a surface of the ski. 10- Thesnow ski claimed in claim 9 wherein said means for attaching said pivotto the snow ski includes a base plate. 11- The snow ski claimed in claim8 wherein one of said limit stops limits travel of the brake plate tothe trailing position whereat a segment of the brake plate projectsbelow the bottom surface of the ski.